Detective Bob Bridger — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

134 DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. “Thank you, and will the young man be on duty at this window during the entire day ?” “Should he be relieved he will transmit his instructions,” returned the official, “and, I think, gentlemen, that you can proceed on your watch, assured that we will thus aid you as far as we may.” Thanking the postmaster the two detectives soon after joined the noisy, hurrying throngs that all day beset the New York post-office, and taking a position near the T win- dow, assumed to be two travelers, intent on the points of a railway map. . Patiently, for two hours, they held their wearisome watch in the hope of beholding the decoy letter delivered, but the day passed until three in the afternoon without event. About this time a newsboy passed through the building, bearing a bundle of the afternoon papers, one of which Bridger purchased. Almost the first item that struck the detective’s eye was one among the telegraphic news, and read as follows: ‘‘An unknown man, dressed as a gentleman, was found dead this morning in a cut near Alton, Pa., atter the passage of the express train west. He had the appearance of a consumptive, and it is supposed that in attempting to cross the platforms of the cars his deer: failed him, and he fell from fhe train.” ‘What do you make of that?” said Bridger, passing the paper to the Scotch detective. ‘Bad, Bobe—bad !” returned Fandon, as he glanced at the item. | ‘Wait where you are,” said Bridger, “and I will find out about it.” Saying so Bridger hastened to a telegraph office in Wall street, for the events I narrate occurred in the old Nassau ~ street post-office. Hence, he telegraphed the coroner at Alton to view the body found, and, if there was a mark in India-ink upon the dead man’s breast, to place the body privately on ice,. and notify him. Returning to the post-office, he found the Scotch detec- tive industriously at his post, and perceived that he smiled as he approached him. * We'll know about the body soon,” said Bridger. ‘Ay, but here we have other news,” returned the Scotch detective, presenting a telegram which a messenger — | had brought him during Bridger’s absence, rs (a mo if A - , é & a 7S * - i/> .. A Z - sf -_ a i? 7 Eomicbooks.com J _* +" *) . i? ‘ >» s - = ., - ‘i od oe